The United National Congress is demanding answers surrounding the hiring of new Heritage Petroleum CEO, Erik Keskula.
This follows the Prime Minister’s revelation that Keskula’s base salary and perks will amount to over $200,000 a month.
Couva South MP Rudranath Indarsingh is now calling on the Board of Heritage Petroleum to tell the nation how many T&T nationals were actually shortlisted for the job of CEO.
Speaking during the UNC’s press conference on Sunday, Indarsingh said the government may argue that Keskula’s salary is in line with international standards and benchmarks.
However, he noted that it was the UNC’s responsibility to get answers surrounding his hiring.
Indarsingh said, “We have to ask how many Trinidadians and Tobagonians were shortlisted for this particular job at Heritage Petroleum. Were they shortlisted by the board of directors of Heritage Petroleum? We want to be aware of the list of candidates who were shortlisted and whether the selection of this compensation package was approved by the board of directors.”
He also questioned whether the selection process was done by a recruitment agency of local or international repute and if so, how much did it cost taxpayers?
“A cushy and hefty compensation package has been approved. And at the same time, this Government continues to spit in the faces of law enforcement officers and public servants telling them that this is a guava season, we cannot give you more than four per cent.”